Why Riot Games’ Canceled Fighting Game Probably Had Little to Do With MultiVersus

Highlights

• Development of Riot Games’ canceled fighting game Pool Party faced internal challenges and transitioned from a competitive to a party game.
• MultiVersus’ performance issues, including backlash over microtransactions and balancing, likely did not influence Pool Party’s cancelation.
• The termination of Pool Party may be linked to the prioritization of Riot Games’ upcoming 2XKO, a 2v2 team-based fighting game currently in alpha testing.

Riot Games has a strong history of developing successful games, including League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Valorant. As the developer continues to expand its portfolio, especially within the League of Legends universe, Riot Games’ current and future projects are well worth keeping an eye on. Unfortunately, despite its numerous successes, not all of its endeavors have been fruitful.

Strikingly, development on Riot Games’ Smash Bros.-inspired platform fighting game, codenamed Pool Party, was halted in July. Although the game was never officially announced, reports suggest that it would have featured characters from the studio’s extensive roster competing against one another. This may have included a clash of iconic figures from across the developer’s universe, such as Valorant agents and champions from League of Legends and Arcane. Though there is speculation linking Pool Party‘s cancelation to MultiVersus‘ performance, it’s unlikely that the two events are meaningfully connected.

Riot Games’ Pool Party Went Through Several Changes Before Its Cancelation

MultiVersus’ Poor Performance Was Likely Unrelated to Riot’s Decision

According to Mikhail Klimentov of The Washington Post, Pool Party encountered numerous internal challenges during its production process. Although the project’s timeline was never publicly revealed, the fighting game, intended to be set within the League of Legends franchise, was originally intended to be highly competitive before transitioning into a party game. While MultiVersus does offer a competitive aspect with its Ranked Mode, which features five divisions, several players, according to Steam reviews, find the game more enjoyable when played casually or with friends.

Additionally, MultiVersus faced challenges following its relaunch, including backlash over microtransactions and balancing issues. Given the substantial overlap in recognizable characters between Riot Games and Warner Bros. Interactive, it appears Riot Games recognized that a strong roster alone wouldn’t guarantee the game’s success. However, to claim that MultiVersus‘ troubled history played a major part in Pool Party‘s eventual cancelation is doubtful, even though long-term success is rare for platformer fighting games outside senior series such as Super Smash Bros.

To claim that
MultiVersus
‘ troubled history played a major part in
Pool Party
‘s eventual cancelation is doubtful.

Riot Games’ Canceled Fighting Game Makes 2XKO a Priority, For Better or For Worse

The termination of Pool Party was met with frustration from both developers and fans. Insiders claim that roughly 70–80 developers were removed or reassigned from the project. While Joe Hixson, the Leading Corp Comms for Riot Games, explained that game development involves constant experimentation and project iteration, the cancelation of the fighting game remains a disappointment for both the development team and its community.

Notably, the cancelation of Pool Party appears more likely linked to the progression of 2XKO, Riot Games’ League of Legends 2v2 team-based fighting game. Currently in Alpha Lab testing from August 8 to 19, the title is poised for a 2025 release after nearly a decade of investment. Announced in 2019 under the name Project L, it appears to have experienced a challenging production process. Due to the significant amount of time and resources put towards the upcoming title, 2XKO now faces considerable pressure as the sole fighting game currently in active development by the company.

It is odd that Riot Games was simultaneously developing two fighting game projects. While such a venture could be seen as an ambitious exploration of the genre, it also raises questions about resource allocation and strategic focus. The unexpected cancelation of Pool Party has undoubtedly left a void for fans eager to see their favorite characters cross-over within the Riot Games universe. Fortunately, League of Legends fans and fighting game enthusiasts can still look forward to the upcoming release of 2XKO.